Electronic-mail apparatus

ABSTRACT

An electronic-mail reception apparatus has a body and includes a facsimile receiver that negotiates with a sender before receiving image data, to receive image data in facsimile format from the sender via a telephone network. An electronic-mail receiver receives image data in an electronic mail format from a mail sender via a communication network, a converter converts the image data in the electronic mail format into image data in the facsimile format, and an output section outputs the converted image data. An error transmission section, when the data format that the electronic-mail receiver receives is different from a predetermined data format of the image data in an electronic-mail format, transmits an error message to the mail sender. The facsimile receiver, the electronic-mail receiver, the converter, the output section and the error transmission section are integrated in the body of the apparatus.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 09/779,824,filed Feb. 9, 2001, which is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.09/210,377, filed Dec. 14, 1998 (now U.S. Pat. No. 6,229,884) which is adivision of U.S. application Ser. No. 08/608,199, filed Feb. 28, 1996(now U.S. Pat. No. 5,881,233) the contents of which are expresslyincorporated herein in their entireties.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] 1. Field of the Invention

[0003] This invention relates to an electronic mail system which canhandle image information.

[0004] 2. Description of the Prior Art

[0005] Japanese published unexamined patent application 2-172348discloses a facsimile apparatus which includes an interface forconnection with a computer network, and a controller for enabling anelectronic mail to be outputted to the computer network via theinterface. The facsimile apparatus is also connected to a telephone lineto receive and output image information from and to the telephone line.In Japanese application 2-172348, the electronic mail outputted to thecomputer network represents a facsimile transmission result report or afacsimile reception result report rather than image information.

[0006] U.S. Pat. No. 5,479,411 discloses that voice, facsimile, andelectronic mail messaging is integrated in a system which convertse-mail messages into voice-and-fax messages. An e-mail message is parsedinto voiceable, prose, segments and non-voiceable, non-prose, segments.Prose segments are converted into voice message segments viatext-to-speech facilities. Each non-prose segment is converted into afax segment. Voice pointers to fax segments are inserted into the voicemessage, in places corresponding to the non-prose segments in the emailmessage. The voice file and fax file are then stored for subsequentdelivery of the message as an integrated voice-and-fax message.Conversion of integrated voice-and-fax messages into e-mail messages islikewise envisioned.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0007] It is an object of this invention to provide an improvedelectronic mail system.

[0008] A first aspect of this invention provides an electronic mailsystem connected to a network which comprises means for converting animage of a document surface into corresponding document image data;means for compressing the document image data into compression-resultantimage data; means for converting the compression-resultant image datainto corresponding image data of a given electronic-mail format; meansfor receiving information of an electronic-mail destination address; andmeans for transmitting the image data of the electronic-mail formattoward the electronic-mail destination address via the network.

[0009] A second aspect of this invention is based on the first aspectthereof, and provides an electronic mail system further comprising meansfor receiving image data in an electronic mail: means for converting thereceived image data into corresponding received image data of a givenfacsimile format; means for expanding the received image data of thefacsimile format into expansion-resultant image data; and means forprinting the expansion-resultant image data.

[0010] A third aspect of this invention is based on the first aspectthereof, and provides an electronic mail system further comprising meansfor transmitting character code data by an electronic mail.

[0011] A fourth aspect of this invention is based on the first aspectthereof, and provides an electronic mail system wherein thedestination-address receiving means comprises means for recognizing anelectronic-mail destination address in a given position of the imagedata.

[0012] A fifth aspect of this invention is based on the first aspectthereof, and provides an electronic mail system further comprising meansfor receiving information of an electronic-mail sender address asinformation of an electronic-mail source address, and means for, incases where a transmission failure occurs, informing the electronic-mailsource address of the transmission failure.

[0013] A sixth aspect of this invention is based on the first aspectthereof, and provides an electronic mail system further comprising meansfor receiving audio data, means for integrating the audio data and theimage data into integration-resultant data, and means for transmittingthe integration-resultant data as a single electronic mail.

[0014] A seventh aspect of this invention is based on the first aspectthereof, and provides an electronic mail system further comprising meansfor receiving moving-picture data, means for integrating themoving-picture data and the image data into integration-resultant data,and means for transmitting the integration-resultant data as a singleelectronic mail.

[0015] An eighth aspect of this invention is based on the third aspectthereof, and provides an electronic mail system further comprising meansfor analyzing a character sequence in a given position of receivedcharacter code data, and means for implementing a process in response toa result of said analyzing.

[0016] A ninth aspect of this invention is based on the eighth aspectthereof, and provides an electronic mail system further comprising meansfor, in cases where the analyzed character sequence indicatesregistration of a destination mail address, registering sender IDinformation in a subsequent character sequence and a plurality ofdestination mail addresses while providing a correspondence relationbetween the sender ID information and the destination mail addresses,and means for, in cases where sender ID information is received duringmail transmission and the sender ID information is equal to theregistered sender ID information, indicating the correspondingdestination mail addresses and selecting a necessary destination fromamong the destination mail addresses.

[0017] A tenth aspect of this invention is based on the eighth aspectthereof, and provides an electronic mail system further comprising meansfor, in cases where the analyzed character sequence indicatesregistration of a source mail address, registering sender ID informationin a subsequent character sequence and a source mail address whileproviding a correspondence relation between the sender ID informationand the source mail address, and means for, in cases where sender IDinformation is received during mail transmission and the sender IDinformation is equal to the registered sender ID information, receivingthe corresponding source mail address as a source.

[0018] An eleventh aspect of this invention is based on the ninth aspectthereof, and provides an electronic mail system further comprising meansfor, in cases where sender ID information is received during mailtransmission and the sender ID information is equal to the registeredsender ID information, writing information of a source mail addresscorresponding to the sender ID information into a header of a mail as asource.

[0019] A twelfth aspect of this invention is based on the second aspectthereof, and provides an electronic mail system further comprising meansfor providing a connection to a telephone line, and means forselectively transmitting the image data via the connection to thetelephone line according to a facsimile procedure or via the networkaccording to an electronic-mail procedure.

[0020] A thirteenth aspect of this invention is based on the twelfthaspect thereof, and provides an electronic mail system furthercomprising means for analyzing a character sequence in a given positionof character code data in a received electronic mail, means for, incases where the analyzed character sequence indicates wait for facsimiledata reception, recognizing a notice electronic-mail address in asubsequent character sequence, means for, in cases where image data isreceived via the connection to the telephone line according to afacsimile procedure after the notice electronic-mail address isrecognized, transmitting an electronic mail representative of areception notice to the notice electronic-mail address.

[0021] A fourteenth aspect of this invention is based on the twelfthaspect thereof, and provides an electronic mail system furthercomprising means for analyzing a first character sequence in a givenposition of a header of image data in a received electronic mail, meansfor, in cases where the analyzed character sequence indicates facsimiletransmission, recognizing a second character sequence in a givenposition of the header except the first character sequence as afacsimile number, and means for transmitting the received image datatoward the facsimile number via the connection to the telephone lineaccording to a facsimile procedure.

[0022] A fifteenth aspect of this invention is based on the first aspectthereof, and provides an electronic mail system further comprising meansfor identifying a country having a destination in response to thedestination address, means for generating information of standard timein the identified country, and means for transmitting the image data asan electronic mail at a desired moment expressed according to thestandard time in the identified country.

[0023] A sixteenth aspect of this invention is based on the secondaspect thereof, and provides an electronic mail system furthercomprising means for registering a plurality of electronic-mailaddresses, means for storing and managing image data transmitted by anelectronic mail for each of the electronic-mail addresses, means forsetting pass words for the respective electronic-mail addresses, andmeans for outputting the stored image data when a related pass word isreceived.

[0024] A seventeenth aspect of this invention is based on the sixteenthaspect thereof, and provides an electronic mail system furthercomprising means for generating information of a cover sheet for each ofthe electronic-mail addresses, and means for adding the information ofthe cover sheet and outputting a resultant of said adding.

[0025] An eighteenth aspect of this invention is based on the secondaspect thereof, and provides an electronic mail system furthercomprising means for, in cases where a first electronic mail isreceived, transmitting a second electronic mail representative ofreception of the first electronic mail to a sender electronic-mailaddress related to the first electronic mail.

[0026] A nineteenth aspect of this invention is based on the secondaspect thereof, and provides an electronic mail system furthercomprising means for writing reception ID information for each receivedelectronic mail, means for providing a correspondence relation between asender electronic-mail address related to the received electronic mailand reception ID information, and means for, in cases where thereception ID information is received, transmitting a conformationelectronic mail to the sender electronic-mail address.

[0027] A twentieth aspect of this invention is based on the secondaspect thereof, and provides an electronic mail system furthercomprising means for, in cases where transmission of a receivedelectronic mail fails, printing information representative of atransmission failure, and means for outputting information of a firstpage of the image data.

[0028] A twenty-first aspect of this invention is based on the firstaspect thereof, and provides an electronic mail system furthercomprising means for receiving character code data by an electronicmail.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0029]FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an electronic mail system accordingto a first embodiment of this invention.

[0030]FIG. 2 is a flowchart of a segment of a program for controlling aCPU in FIG. 1.

[0031]FIG. 3 is a block diagram of an electronic mail system accordingto a second embodiment of this invention.

[0032]FIG. 4 is a flowchart of a segment of a program for controlling aCPU in FIG. 3.

[0033]FIG. 5 is a block diagram of an electronic mail system accordingto a third embodiment of this invention.

[0034]FIG. 6 is a flowchart of a segment of a program for controlling aCPU in FIG. 5.

[0035]FIG. 7 is a block diagram of an electronic mail system accordingto a fourth embodiment of this invention.

[0036]FIG. 8 is a flowchart of a segment of a program for controlling aCPU in FIG. 7.

[0037]FIG. 9 is a block diagram of an electronic mail system accordingto a fifth embodiment of this invention.

[0038]FIG. 10 is a flowchart of a segment of a program for controlling aCPU in FIG. 9.

[0039]FIG. 11 is a block diagram of an electronic mail system accordingto a sixth embodiment of this invention.

[0040]FIG. 12 is a flowchart of a first segment of a program forcontrolling a CPU in FIG. 11.

[0041]FIG. 13 is a flowchart of a second segment of the program forcontrolling the CPU in FIG. 11.

[0042]FIG. 14 is a block diagram of an electronic mail system accordingto a seventh embodiment of this invention.

[0043]FIG. 15 is a flowchart of a segment of a program for controlling aCPU in FIG. 14.

[0044]FIG. 16 is a block diagram of an electronic mail system accordingto an eighth embodiment of this invention.

[0045]FIG. 17 is a diagram of a part of an example of an e-mail in agiven format.

[0046]FIG. 18 is a block diagram of an electronic mail system accordingto a ninth embodiment of this invention.

[0047]FIG. 19 is a flowchart of a first segment of a program forcontrolling a CPU in FIG. 18.

[0048]FIG. 20 is a flowchart of a second segment of the program forcontrolling the CPU in FIG. 18.

[0049]FIG. 21 is a block diagram of art electronic mail system accordingto a tenth embodiment of this invention.

[0050]FIG. 22 is a flowchart of a first segment of a program forcontrolling a CPU in FIG. 21.

[0051]FIG. 23 is a flowchart of a second segment of the program forcontrolling the CPU in FIG. 21.

[0052]FIG. 24 is a block diagram of an electronic mail system accordingto a twelfth embodiment of this invention.

[0053]FIG. 25 is a flowchart of a segment of a program for controlling aCPU in FIG. 24.

[0054]FIG. 26 is a flowchart of a segment of a program for controlling aCPU in an electronic mail system according to a thirteenth embodiment ofthis invention.

[0055]FIG. 27 is a flowchart of a segment of a program for controlling aCPU in an electronic mail system according to a fourteenth embodiment ofthis invention.

[0056]FIG. 28 is a block diagram of an electronic mail system accordingto a fifteenth embodiment of this invention.

[0057]FIG. 29 is a flowchart of a segment of a program for controlling aCPU in FIG. 28.

[0058]FIG. 30 is a flowchart of a segment of a program for controlling aCPU in an electronic mail system according to a sixteenth embodiment ofthis invention.

[0059]FIG. 31 is a flowchart of a segment of a program for controlling aCPU in an electronic mail system according to an eighteenth embodimentof is invention.

[0060]FIG. 32 is a flowchart of a segment of a program for controlling aCPU in an electronic mail system according to a nineteenth embodiment ofis invention.

[0061]FIG. 33 is a flowchart of a segment of a program for controlling aCPU in an electronic mail system according to a twentieth embodiment ofthis invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0062] First Embodiment

[0063] With reference to FIG. 1, an electronic mail system includes aCPU 1, a ROM 2, a RAM 3, a storage unit 4, a format converter 5, ascanner 6, an operation panel 7, a data compressor 8, and a LAN (localarea network) controller 9 which are electrically connected via a busline.

[0064] The CPU 1 operates in accordance with a program stored in the ROM2. The CPU 1 provides a work area in the RAM 3, and accesses and usesthe work area during signal processing. The storage unit 4 includes, forexample, a hard disk device which is used in storing data includingcompression-resultant image data of a facsimile format. The formatconverter 5 changes compression-resultant image data of the facsimileformat into corresponding image data of the e-mail (electronic mail)format. The scanner 6 converts an image of, for example, a documentsheet surface into corresponding binary image data (correspondingbi-level image data). The operation panel 7 has a key board, a startbutton, and other buttons. Information of the destination or the addressof an e-mail to be transmitted can be inputted into the electronic mailsystem by operating the key board on the operation panel 7. The scanner6 can be activated by operating the start button on the operation panel7. The data compressor 8 serves to compress binary image data (bi-levelimage data) which is generated by the scanner 6. The LAN controller 9includes a LAN interface.

[0065] The LAN controller 9 is connected via a LAN to an e-mail computer9A. The e-mail computer 9A is connected to an e-mail network such as theInternet.

[0066] As previously described, the CPU 1 operates in accordance with aprogram stored in the ROM 2. FIG. 2 is a flowchart of a segment of theprogram. In the case where the transmission of information on a documentsheet is required, the sheet is placed in the scanner 6 and informationof a desired destination is inputted via the operation panel 7. Further,the start button on the operation panel 7 is depressed.

[0067] With reference to FIG. 2, a first step S1 in the program segmentdecides whether or not information of the destination or the address ofan e-mail to be transmitted has been inputted via the operation panel 7.In addition, the step S1 decides whether or not the start button on theoperation panel 7 has been depressed. In the case where information ofthe destination of an e-mail to be transmitted has been inputted and thestart button on the operation panel 7 has been depressed, the programadvances from the step S1 to a step S2. Otherwise, the program repeatsthe step S1. Thus, the step S1 waits the reception of an e-maildestination and the depression of the start button.

[0068] The step S2 activates the scanner 6 so that an image of thesurface of a document sheet in the scanner 6 is converted by the scanner6 into corresponding binary image data (corresponding bi-level imagedata). A step S3 following the step S2 transfers the binary image datafrom the scanner 6 to the data compressor 8. Then, the step S3 activatesthe data compressor 8 so that the binary image data is compressed by thedevice 8 into compression-resultant image data of a given facsimileformat. Further, the step S3 transfers the compression-resultant imagedata of the facsimile format from the data compressor 8 to the storageunit 4 before storing the compression-resultant image data of thefacsimile format into the storage unit 4. In the case where thetransmission of information on a plurality of document sheets (that is,a plurality of pages) is required, the document sheets are sequentiallyscanned by the device 6 and the compression-resultant image data of thefacsimile format is stored into the storage unit 4 as a single filehaving a plurality of pages.

[0069] A step S4 following the step S3 transfers thecompression-resultant image data of the facsimile format from thestorage unit 4 to the format converter 5. The step S4 activates theformat converter 5 so that the compression-resultant image data of thefacsimile format is converted by the device 5 into corresponding imagedata of the e-mail format. In addition, the step S4 transfers the imagedata of the e-mail format from the format converter 5 to the storageunit 4 before storing the image data of the e-mail format into thestorage unit 4.

[0070] A step S5 subsequent to the step S4 transfers the image data ofthe e-mail format from the storage unit 4 to the LAN controller 9. Thestep S5 activates the LAN controller 9 so that the image data of thee-mail format is further transferred from the LAN controller 9 to thee-mail computer 9A. The image data of the email format, that is, ane-mail, is transmitted from the e-mail computer 9A to the destinationvia the e-mail network 9B. After the step S5, the current executioncycle of the program segment ends.

[0071] The image data generated by the scanner 6 is of the binary typeor the bi-level type. The compression-resultant image data of thefacsimile format which is generated by the data compressor 8 is also ofthe binary type or the bi-level type. The format converter 5successively encodes pieces of the compression-resultant facsimile imagedata into corresponding 7-bit character code words respectively. The7-bit character code words compose text-encoded image data. Thus, theformat converter 5 changes the compression-resultant facsimile imagedata into the corresponding text-encoded image data. The formatconverter 5 adds a header of a given format to the text-encoded imagedata, thereby completing the image data of the e-mail format. The headerincludes information of the destination, information of a sourceaddress, information of the data format, and information of the mannerof conversion from the image data into the character code words. Theformat related to the header and the manner of conversion from the imagedata into the character code words are in conformity with the Internete-main standards referred to as MIME (Multipurpose Internet MailExtensions).

[0072] Second Embodiment

[0073]FIG. 3 shows a second embodiment of this invention which issimilar to the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2 except for an additionalarrangement described hereinafter.

[0074] With reference to FIG. 3, an electronic mail system includes aCPU 1, a ROM 2, a RAM 3, a storage unit 4, a format converter 5, ascanner 6, an operation panel 7, a data compressor/expander 8A, a LAN(local area network) controller 9, an inverse format converter 10, and aprinter 11 which are electrically connected via a bus line. The inverseformat converter 10 changes image data of the e-mail format intocorresponding image data of a given facsimile format. The datacompressor/expander 8A replaces the data compressor 8 in FIG. 1. Thedata compressor/expander 8A serves to compress binary image data(bi-level image data) generated by the scanner 6. In addition, the datacompressor/expander 8A serves to expand image data of the facsimileformat into expansion-resultant binary image data (expansion-resultantbi-level image data). The printer 11 serves to print outexpansion-resultant binary image data.

[0075] The CPU 1 operates in accordance with a program stored in the ROM2. FIG. 4 is a flowchart of a segment of the program. With reference toFIG. 4, a first step S11 in the program segment decides whether or notdata of the e-mail format has been received by the LAN controller 9. Inthe case where data of the e-mail format has been received, the step S11transfers the received data of the e-mail format to the storage unit 4.The step S11 controls the storage unit 4 so that the received data ofthe e-mail format is stored into the storage unit 4. In the case wheredata of the e-mail format has not yet been received, the program repeatsthe step S11. Thus, the step S11 waits the reception of data of thee-mail format.

[0076] A step S12A following the step S11 decides whether or not thereceived data of the e-mail format agrees with image data of the e-mailformat by referring to related information in the header of the receiveddata of the e-mail format. When the received data agrees with imagedata, the program advances from the step S12A to a step S12B. When thereceived data differs from image data, the program advances from thestep S12A to a step S12C. The step S12B transfers the received data ofthe e-mail format from the storage unit 4 to the inverse formatconverter 10. The step S12B activates the inverse format converter 10 sothat the received data of the e-mail format is converted by the device10 into corresponding image data of a given facsimile format. The step12C controls the LAN controller 9 so that a responsive e-mailrepresenting an error will be transmitted to the source concerning thereceived data of the e-mail format. After the step S12C, the currentexecution cycle of the program segment ends.

[0077] A step S13 following the step S12B transfers the image data ofthe facsimile format from the inverse format converter 10 to the datacompressor/expander 8A. The step S13 activates the datacompressor/expander 8A so that the image data of the facsimile format isexpanded by the device 8A into expansion-resultant binary image data(expansion-resultant bi-level image data). Further, the step S13transfers the expansion-resultant binary image data from the datacompressor/expander 8A to the storage unit 4 before storing theexpansion-resultant binary image data into the storage unit 4.

[0078] A step S14 subsequent to the step S13 transfers theexpansion-resultant binary image data from the storage unit 4 to theprinter 11. The step S14 activates the printer 11 so that theexpansion-resultant binary image data is visualized or printed out bythe device 11. After the step S14, the current execution cycle of theprogram segment ends.

[0079] As previously described, the inverse format converter 10 changesthe received data of the e-mail format into the corresponding image dataof the facsimile format. Specifically, the inverse format converter 10extracts text-encoded image data from the received data of the e-mailformat. Then, the inverse format converter 10 changes the text-encodedimage data into corresponding binary (bi-level) image data of thefacsimile format.

[0080] Third Embodiment

[0081]FIG. 5 shows a third embodiment of this invention which is similarto the embodiment of FIGS. 3 and 4 except for an additional arrangementdescribed hereinafter.

[0082] With reference to FIG. 5, an electronic mail system includes aCPU 1, a ROM 2, a RAM 3, a storage unit 4, a format converter 5, ascanner 6, an operation panel 7, a data compressor/expander 8A, a LAN(local area network) controller 9, an inverse format converter 10, aprinter 11, and a font memory 12 which are electrically connected via abus line. The font memory 12 includes, for example, a ROM which storesfont data providing the relation between character code data and imagedata.

[0083] The CPU 1 operates in accordance with a program stored in the ROM2. FIG. 6 is a flowchart of a segment of the program. With reference toFIG. 6, a first step S21 in the program segment decides whether or notdata of the e-mail format has been received by the LAN controller 9.This decision is to wait the reception of data of the e-mail format. Inthe case where data of the e-mail format has been received, the step S21decides whether or not the received data of the e-mail format agreeswith character code data by referring to the data format information inthe header of the received data of the e-mail format. According to theMIME standards, the data format information follows the information“content-type”, and denotes “text/plain” in the case where the relateddata of the e-mail format agrees with character code data. It should benoted that the data format information denotes “image/tiff” in the casewhere the related data of the e-mail format agrees with image data. Whenthe received data of the e-mail format agrees with character code data,the program advances from the step S21 to a step S22B. When the receiveddata of the e-mail format agrees with image data, the received data ofthe e-mail format will be processed as in the embodiment of FIGS. 3 and4.

[0084] The step S22B activates the font memory 12 so that the charactercode data is converted into corresponding image data according to thefont data in the font memory 12.

[0085] A step S23 following the step S22B transfers the image data tothe printer I11. Also, the step S23 activates the printer 11 so that theimage data is visualized or printed out by the device 11. After the stepS23, the current execution cycle of the program segment ends.

[0086] Fourth Embodiment

[0087]FIG. 7 shows a fourth embodiment of this invention which issimilar to the embodiment of FIGS. 5 and 6 except for an additionalarrangement described hereinafter.

[0088] With reference to FIG. 7, an electronic mail system includes aCPU 1, a ROM 2, a RAM 3, a storage unit 4, a format converter 5, ascanner 6, an operation panel 7, a data compressor/expander 8A, a LAN(local area network) controller 9, an inverse format converter 10, aprinter 11, a font memory 12, and a character recognition unit 13 whichare electrically connected via a bus line. The character recognitionunit 13 serves to recognize characters represented by binary image data(bi-level image data).

[0089] Information on a document sheet which is to be transmittedcontains information of the destination or the address of a transmittede-mail. Specifically, characters in a predetermined zone of the documentsheet indicate an e-mail destination. Thus, the characters in thepredetermined zone of the document sheet correspond to the informationof the e-mail destination.

[0090] The CPU 1 operates in accordance with a program stored in the ROM2. FIG. 8 is a flowchart of a segment of the program. With reference toFIG. 8, a first step S31 in the program segment decides whether or not astart button on the operation panel 7 has been depressed. In the casewhere the start button on the operation panel 7 has been depressed, theprogram advances from the step S31 to a step S32. Otherwise, the programrepeats the step S31. Thus, the step S31 waits the depression of thestart button.

[0091] The step S32 activates the scanner 6 so that an image of thesurface of a document sheet in the scanner 6 is converted by the scanner6 into corresponding binary image data (corresponding bi-level imagedata).

[0092] A step S33 following the step S32 extracts a portion of thebinary image data which corresponds to the predetermined zone. The stepS33 transfers the extracted portion of the image data to the characterrecognition unit 13. Further, the step S33 activates the characterrecognition unit 13 so that characters represented by the extractedportion of the image data are recognized by the device 13. The characterrecognition unit 13 generates information of a destination in accordancewith the result of the character recognition.

[0093] A step S34 subsequent to the step S33 transfers the binary imagedata from the scanner 6 to the data compressor/expander 8A. Then, thestep S34 activates the data compressor/expander 8A so that the binaryimage data is compressed by the device 8A into compression-resultantimage data of a given facsimile format. Further, the step S34 transfersthe compression-resultant image data of the facsimile format from thedata compressor/expander 8A to the storage unit 4 before storing thecompression-resultant image data of the facsimile format into thestorage unit 4.

[0094] A step S35 following the step S34 transfers thecompression-resultant image data of the facsimile format from thestorage unit 4 to the format converter 5. In addition, the step S35transfers the information of the destination to the format converter 5.The step S35 activates the format converter 5 so that thecompression-resultant image data of the facsimile format is converted bythe device 5 into corresponding image data of the e-mail format. Theimage data of the e-mail format contains the information of thedestination. Further, the step S35 transfers the image data of the e5mail format from the format converter 5 to the storage unit 4 beforestoring the image data of the e-mail format into the storage unit 4.

[0095] A step S36 subsequent to the step S35 transfers the image data ofthe email format from the storage unit 4 to the LAN controller 9. Thestep S36 activates the LAN controller 9 so that the image data of thee-mail format is further transferred from the LAN controller 9 to ane-mail computer 9A. The image data of the e-mail format, that is, ane-mail, is transmitted from the e-mail computer 9A to the destinationvia an e-mail network 9B. After the step S36, the current executioncycle of the program segment ends.

[0096] Fifth Embodiment

[0097]FIG. 9 shows a fifth embodiment of this invention which is similarto the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2 except for an additional arrangementdescribed hereinafter.

[0098] With reference to FIG. 9, an electronic mail system includes aCPU 1, a ROM 2, a RAM 3, a storage unit 4, a format converter 5, ascanner 6, an operation panel 7A, a data compressor 8, and a LAN (localarea network) controller 9 which are electrically connected via a busline. The operation panel 7A replaces the operation panel 7 in FIG. 1.The operation panel 7A has a key board, a start button, a source button,and other buttons. Information of the destination or the address of ane-mail to be transmitted can be inputted into the electronic mail systemby operating the key board on the operation panel 7A. The scanner 6 canbe activated by operating the start button on the operation panel 7A.Information of the address of an e-mail transmission source can beinputted into the electronic mail system by operating the source buttonon the operation panel 7A. The source address agrees with an addressassigned to an e-mail computer 9A connected to the LAN controller 9.Accordingly, in the event that the transmission of an e-mail from theelectronic mail system to the destination has failed, a responsivee-mail representing the transmission failure can be received by thee-mail computer 9A.

[0099] The CPU 1 operates in accordance with a program stored in the ROM2. FIG. 10 is a flowchart of a segment of the program. With reference toFIG. 10, a first step S41 in the program segment decides whether or notinformation of the destination or the address of an e-mail to betransmitted has been inputted via the operation panel 7A. In the casewhere the information of the destination of an e-mail to be transmittedhas been inputted, the program advances from the step S41 to a step S42.Otherwise, the program repeats the step S41. Thus, the step S41 waitsthe reception of the information of an e-mail destination.

[0100] The step S42 decides whether or not the source button on theoperation panel 7A has been depressed to input the information of theaddress of the e-mail transmission source. In the case where the sourcebutton on the operation panel 7A has been depressed, the programadvances from the step S42 to a step S43. Otherwise, the program repeatsthe step S42. Thus, the step S42 waits the reception of the informationof an e-mail source address.

[0101] The step S43 decides whether or not the start button on theoperation panel 7A has been depressed. In the case where the startbutton on the operation panel 7A has been depressed, the programadvances from the step S43 to a step S44. Otherwise, the program repeatsthe step S43. Thus, the step S43 waits the depression of the startbutton.

[0102] The step S44 activates the scanner 6 so that an image of thesurface of a document sheet in the scanner 6 is converted by the scanner6 into corresponding binary image data (corresponding bi-level imagedata). A step S45 following the step S44 transfers the binary image datafrom the scanner 6 to the data compressor 8. Then, the step S45activates the data compressor 8 so that the binary image data iscompressed by the device 8 into compression-resultant image data of agiven facsimile format. Further, the step S45 transfers thecompression-resultant image data of the facsimile format from the datacompressor 8 to the storage unit 4 before storing thecompression-resultant image data of the facsimile format into thestorage unit 4.

[0103] A step S46 following the step S45 transfers thecompression-resultant image data of the facsimile format from thestorage unit 4 to the format converter 5. In addition, the step S46transfers the information of the source address and the information ofthe destination to the format converter 5. The step S46 activates theformat converter 5 so that the compression-resultant image data of thefacsimile format is converted by the device 5 into corresponding imagedata of the e-mail format. The image data of the e-mail format containsthe information of the source address and the information of thedestination. Further, the step S46 transfers the image data of thee-mail format from the format converter 5 to the storage unit 4 beforestoring the image data of the e-mail format into the storage unit 4.

[0104] A step S47 subsequent to the step S46 transfers the image data ofthe email format from the storage unit 4 to the LAN controller 9. Thestep S47 activates the LAN controller 9 so that the image data of thee-mail format is further transferred from the LAN controller 9 to thee-mail computer 9A. The image data of the e-mail format, that is, ane-mail, is transmitted from the e-mail computer 9A to the destinationvia an e-mail network 9B. After the step S47, the current executioncycle of the program segment ends.

[0105] Sixth Embodiment

[0106]FIG. 11 shows a sixth embodiment of this invention which issimilar to the embodiment of FIGS. 7 and 8 except for an additionalarrangement described hereinafter.

[0107] With reference to FIG. 11, an electronic mail system includes aCPU 1, a ROM 2, a RAM 3, a storage unit 4, a format converter 5, ascanner 6, an operation panel 7B, a data compressor/expander 8A, a LAN(local area network) controller 9, an inverse format converter 10, aprinter 11, a font memory 12, a character recognition unit 13, an audioinput/output device 14, and an audio compressor/expander 15 which areelectrically connected via a bus line. The operation panel 7B replacesthe operation panel 7 in FIG. 7. The operation panel 7B has a startbutton, a message button, and other buttons. The scanner 6 can beactivated by operating the start button on the operation panel 7B. Thedepression of the message button on the operation panel 7B enables audiomessage information to be inputted into the electronic mail system. Theaudio input/output device 14 includes a microphone and anelectric-to-sound transducer such as a loudspeaker (a sound speaker).The microphone in the audio input/output device 14 converts a soundmessage into a corresponding audio signal. The audio signal is changedinto corresponding audio data by an A/D converter in the audioinput/output device 14. The audio input/output device 14 also includes aD/A converter which changes audio data into a corresponding audiosignal. The audio signal is converted into corresponding sound by theloudspeaker (the sound speaker) in the audio input/output device 14. Theaudio compressor/expander 15 serves to compress and expand audio data.

[0108] The CPU 1 operates in accordance with a program stored in the ROM2. FIG. 12 is a flowchart of a first segment of the program. Withreference to FIG. 12, a first step S51 in the first program segmentdecides whether or not the start button on the operation panel 7B hasbeen depressed. In the case where the start button on the operationpanel 7B has been depressed, the program advances from the step S51 to astep S52. Otherwise, the program repeats the step S51. Thus, the stepS51 waits the depression of the start button.

[0109] The step S52 decides whether or not the message button on theoperation panel 7B is depressed and a sound message is converted by themicrophone and the A/D converter in the audio input/output device 14into corresponding audio data. This decision is to wait the depressionof the message button and the reception of the audio data. In the casewhere the message button on the operation panel 7B is depressed and thesound message is converted by the audio input/output device 14 into thecorresponding audio data, the step S52 transfers the audio data from theaudio input/output device 14 to the audio compressor/expander 15. Thestep S52 activates the audio compressor/expander so that the audio datais compressed by the device 15 into compression-resultant audio data.Further, the step S52 transfers the compression-resultant audio datafrom the audio compressor/expander 15 to the storage unit 4 beforestoring the compression-resultant audio data into the storage unit 4.

[0110] A step S53 subsequent to the step S52 activates the scanner 6 sothat an image of the surface of a document sheet in the scanner 6 isconverted by the scanner 6 into corresponding binary image data(corresponding bi-level image data).

[0111] A step S54 following the step S53 extracts a portion of thebinary image data which corresponds to a predetermined zone. The stepS54 transfers the extracted portion of the image data to the characterrecognition unit 13. Further, the step S54 activates the characterrecognition unit 13 so that characters represented by the extractedportion of the image data are recognized by the device 13. The characterrecognition unit 13 generates information of a destination in accordancewith the result of the character recognition.

[0112] A step S55 subsequent to the step S54 transfers the binary imagedata from the scanner 6 to the data compressor/expander 8A. Then, thestep S55 activates the data compressor/expander 8A so that the binaryimage data is compressed by the device 8A into compression-resultantimage data of a given facsimile format. Further, the step S55 transfersthe compression-resultant image data of the facsimile format from thedata compressor/expander 8A to the storage unit 4 before storing thecompression-resultant image data of the facsimile format into thestorage unit 4.

[0113] A step S56 following the step S55 transfers thecompression-resultant image data of the facsimile format from thestorage unit 4 to the format converter 5. In addition, the step S56transfers the information of the destination to the format converter 5.Further, the step S56 transmits the compression-resultant audio datafrom the storage unit 4 to the format converter 5. The step S56activates the format converter 5 so that the compression-resultant imagedata of the facsimile format and the compression-resultant audio dataare converted and integrated by the device 5 into correspondingimage/audio data of the e-mail format. It should be noted that themanner of the integration is in conformity with the MIME standards. Theimage/audio data of the e-mail format contains the information of thedestination. Further, the step S56 transfers the image/audio data of thee-mail format from the format converter 5 to the storage unit 4 beforestoring the image/audio data of the e-mail format into the storage unit4.

[0114] A step S57 subsequent to the step S56 transfers the image/audiodata of the e-mail format from the storage unit 4 to the LAN controller9. The step S57 activates the LAN controller 9 so that the image/audiodata of the e-mail format is further transferred from the LAN controller9 to an e-mail computer 9A. The image/audio data of the e-mail format,that is, an e-mail, is transmitted from the email computer 9A to thedestination via an e-mail network 9B. After the step S57, the currentexecution cycle of the first program segment ends.

[0115]FIG. 13 is a flowchart of a second segment of the program. Withreference to FIG. 13, a first step S58A in the second program segmentdecides whether or not data of the e-mail format has been received bythe LAN controller 9. This decision is to wait the reception of data ofthe e-mail format. In the case where data of the e-mail format has beenreceived, the step S58A transfers the received data of the e-mail formatto the storage unit 4. The step S58A controls the storage unit 4 so thatthe received data of the e-mail format is stored into the storage unit4.

[0116] A step S58B following the step S58A transfers the received dataof the email format from the storage unit 4 to the inverse formatconverter 10. A step S58C subsequent to the step S58B decides whether ornot the received data of the e-mail format agrees with image/audio dataof the e-mail format by referring to related information in the headerof the received data of the e-mail format. When the received data agreeswith image/audio data, the step S58C activates the inverse formatconverter 10 so that the received data of the e-mail format is convertedand separated by the device 10 into image data of a given facsimileformat and audio data. When the received data differs from image/audiodata, the received data will be processed as in the embodiment of FIGS.3 and 4.

[0117] A step S58D following the step S58C transfers the image data ofthe facsimile format from the inverse format converter 10 to the datacompressor/expander 8A. The step S58D activates the datacompressor/expander 8A so that the image data of the facsimile format isexpanded by the device 8A into expansion-resultant binary image data(expansion-resultant bi-level image data). Further, the step S58Dtransfers the expansion-resultant binary image data from the datacompressor/expander 8A to the storage unit 4 before storing theexpansion-resultant binary image data into the storage unit 4.

[0118] A step S58E subsequent to the step S58D transfers theexpansion-resultant binary image data from the storage unit 4 to theprinter 11. The step S58E activates the printer 11 so that theexpansion-resultant binary image data is visualized or printed out bythe device 11.

[0119] A step S58F following the step S58E transfers the audio data fromthe inverse format converter 10 to the audio compressor/expander 15. Thestep S58F activates the audio compressor/expander 15 so that the audiodata is expanded by the device 15 into expansion-resultant audio data.Further, the step S58F transfers the expansion-resultant audio data fromthe audio compressor/expander 15 to the storage unit 4 before storingthe expansion-resultant audio data into the storage unit 4.

[0120] A step S58G subsequent to the step S58F transfers theexpansion-resultant audio data from the storage unit 4 to the audioinput/output device 14. The step S58G activates the audio input/outputdevice 14 so that the loudspeaker (the sound speaker) and the D/Aconverter therein generate sound in response to the audio data. Afterthe step S58G, the current execution cycle of the second program segmentends.

[0121] Seventh Embodiment

[0122]FIG. 14 shows a seventh embodiment of this invention which issimilar to the embodiment of FIGS. 11-13 except for an additionalarrangement described hereinafter.

[0123] With reference to FIG. 14, an electronic mail system includes aCPU 1, a ROM 2, a RAM 3, a storage unit 4, a format converter 5, ascanner 6, an operation panel 7C, a data compressor/expander 8A, a LAN(local area network) controller 9, an inverse format converter 10, aprinter 11, a font memory 12, a character recognition unit 13, an audioinput/output device 14, an audio compressor/expander 15, a videoinput/output device 16, and a moving-picture compressor/expander 17which are electrically connected via a bus line. The operation panel 7Creplaces the operation panel 7B in FIG. 11. The operation panel 7C has astart button, a video button, and other buttons. The scanner 6 can beactivated by operating the start button on the operation panel 7C. Thedepression of the video button on the operation panel 7C enablesmoving-picture information to be inputted into the electronic mailsystem. The video input/output device 16 includes a video camera and adisplay such as a CRT. The video camera in the video input/output device16 converts moving pictures into corresponding data. The display in thevideo input/output device 16 visualizes moving-picture data. Themoving-picture compressor/expander 17 serves to compress and expandmoving-picture data.

[0124] The CPU 1 operates in accordance with a program stored in the ROM2. FIG. 15 is a flowchart of a segment of the program. With reference toFIG. 15, a first step S61 in the program segment decides whether or notthe start button on the operation panel 7C has been depressed. In thecase where the start button on the operation panel 7C has beendepressed, the program advances from the step S61 to a step S62.Otherwise, the program repeats the step S61. Thus, the step S61 waitsthe depression of the start button.

[0125] The step S62 decides whether or not the video button on theoperation panel 7C is depressed and moving pictures are converted by thevideo camera in the video input/output device 16 into correspondingdata. This decision is to wait the depression of the video button andthe reception of moving-picture data. In the case where the video buttonon the operation panel 7C is depressed and the moving pictures areconverted by the video camera in the video input/output device 16 intothe corresponding data, the step S62 transfers the moving-picture datafrom the video input/output device 16 to the moving-picturecompressor/expander 17. The step S62 activates the moving-picturecompressor/expander 17 so that the moving-picture data is compressed bythe device 17 into compression-resultant moving-picture data. Further,the step S62 transfers the compression-resultant moving-picture datafrom the moving-picture compressor/expander 17 to the storage unit 4before storing the compression-resultant moving-picture data into thestorage unit 4.

[0126] A step S63 subsequent to the step S62 activates the scanner 6 sothat an image of the surface of a document sheet in the scanner 6 isconverted by the scanner 6 into corresponding binary image data(corresponding bi-level image data).

[0127] A step S64 following the step S63 extracts a portion of thebinary image data which corresponds to a predetermined zone. The stepS64 transfers the extracted portion of the image data to the characterrecognition unit 13. Further, the step S64 activates the characterrecognition unit 13 so that characters represented by the extractedportion of the image data are recognized by the device 13. The characterrecognition unit 13 generates information of a destination in accordancewith the result of the character recognition.

[0128] A step S65 subsequent to the step S64 transfers the binary imagedata from the scanner 6 to the data compressor/expander 8A. Then, thestep S65 activates the data compressor/expander 8A so that the binaryimage data is compressed by the device 8A into compression-resultantimage data of a given facsimile format. Further, the step S65 transfersthe compression-resultant image data of the facsimile format from thedata compressor/expander 8A to the storage unit 4 before storing thecompression-resultant image data of the facsimile format into thestorage unit 4.

[0129] A step S66 following the step S65 transfers thecompression-resultant image data of the facsimile format from thestorage unit 4 to the format converter 5. In addition, the step S66transfers the information of the destination to the format converter 5.Further, the step S66 transmits the compression-resultant moving-picturedata from the storage unit 4 to the format converter 5. The step S66activates the format converter 5 so that the compression-resultant imagedata of the facsimile format and the compression-resultantmoving-picture data are converted and integrated by the device 5 intocorresponding image data of the email format. It should be noted thatthe manner of the integration is in conformity with the MIME standards.The image data of the e-mail format contains the information of thedestination. Further, the step S66 transfers the image data of thee-mail format from the format converter 5 to the storage unit 4 beforestoring the image data of the e-mail format into the storage unit 4.

[0130] A step S67 subsequent to the step S66 transfers the image data ofthe email format from the storage unit 4 to the LAN controller 9. Thestep S67 activates the LAN controller 9 so that the image data of thee-mail format is further transferred from the LAN controller 9 to ane-mail computer 9A. The image data of the e-mail format, that is, ane-mail, is transmitted from the e-mail computer 9A to the destinationvia an e-mail network 9B. After the step S67, the current executioncycle of the program segment ends.

[0131] Eighth Embodiment

[0132]FIG. 16 shows an eighth embodiment of this invention which issimilar to the embodiment of FIGS. 7 and 8 except for design changesdescribed hereinafter.

[0133] With reference to FIG. 16, an electronic mail system includes aCPU 1, a ROM 2, a RAM 3, a storage unit 4, a format converter 5, ascanner 6, an operation panel 7, a data compressor/expander 8A, a LAN(local area network) controller 9X, an inverse format converter 10, aprinter 11, a font memory 12, and a character recognition unit 13 whichare electrically connected via a bus line. The LAN controller 9Xreplaces the LAN controller 9 in FIG. 7. The LAN controller 9X analyzesa received e-mail. The CPU 1 is programmed to execute data processing inresponse to a result of the analysis by the LAN controller 9X.

[0134]FIG. 17 shows a part of an example of an e-mail in a given format.As shown in FIG. 17, the e-mail has a header 31 and a text (a message)32. The header 31 is followed by the text 32. The header 31 containsinformation representing a type of data in the text 32. In the exampleof FIG. 17, “Content-Type: text/plain” in the header 31 represents thata related portion of the text 32 corresponds to character code data.Further, “Subject: !!$” in the header 31 represents that a relatedportion of the text 32 corresponds to an instruction (a command).

[0135] The text 32 contains ID (identification) information of a sender,information of a list of destination mail addresses, and information ofa source address. The ID information of the sender is preceded by aspecified code word “!ID”. The information of the list of thedestination mail addresses is preceded by a specified code word “!LIST”.The information of the source address is preceded by a specified codeword “!FROM”.

[0136] After the LAN controller 9 receives an e-mail, the LAN controller9 analyzes ID (identification) information of a sender, information of alist of destination mail addresses, and information of a source addresswhich are contained in the received e-mail. The LAN controller 9recognizes the sender as a result of the analysis of the ID informationthereof. The CPU 1 serves to transfer the ID information of the sender,the information of the list of the destination mail addresses, and theinformation of the source address from the LAN controller 9 to thestorage unit 4. Then, the CPU 1 serves to store the ID information ofthe sender, the information of the list of the destination mailaddresses, and the information of the source address into the storageunit 4.

[0137] Ninth Embodiment

[0138]FIG. 18 shows a ninth embodiment of this invention which issimilar to the embodiment of FIGS. 7 and 8 except for design changesdescribed hereinafter.

[0139] With reference to FIG. 18, an electronic mail system includes aCPU 1, a ROM 2, a RAM 3, a storage unit 4, a format converter 5, ascanner 6, an operation panel 7D, a data compressor/expander 8A, a LAN(local area network) controller 9, an inverse format converter 10, aprinter 11, a font memory 12, and a character recognition unit 13 whichare electrically connected via a bus line. The operation panel 7Dreplaces the operation panel 7 in FIG. 7. The operation panel 7D has adisplay, a key board, a start button, a destination list button, andother buttons. Information of a destination list can be visualized bythe display on the operation panel 7D. ID information of a sender can beinputted into the electronic mail system by operating the key board onthe operation panel 7D. The scanner 6 can be activated by operating thestart button on the operation panel 7D. The depression of thedestination list button on the operation panel 7D enables a destinationlist to be indicated by display on the operation panel 7D.

[0140] The CPU 1 operates in accordance with a program stored in the ROM2. FIG. 19 is a flowchart of a first segment of the program. Withreference to FIG. 19, a first step S71 in the first program segmentdecides whether or not character code data in an e-mail has beenreceived by the LAN controller 9. In the case where the character codedata in the e-mail has been received, the program advances from the stepS71 to a step S72. Otherwise, the program repeats the step S71. Thus,the step S71 waits the reception of character code data in an e-mail.The step S72 analyzes the “Subject” part of the header of the e-mail.

[0141] A step S73 following the step S72 decides whether or not the“Subject” part of the header corresponds to a text instruction byreferring to the result of the analysis by the step S72. When the“Subject” part of the header corresponds to a text instruction, theprogram advances from the step S73 to a step S74. Otherwise, the programadvances from the step S73 to a step S76.

[0142] The step S74 analyzes the text in the e-mail to extract IDinformation of a sender and information of a destination mail listtherefrom. A step S75 following the step S74 stores or registers the IDinformation of the sender and the information of the destination maillist into the storage unit 4 in a manner such that the ID information ofthe sender and the information of the destination mail list are in agiven correspondence relation. After the step S75, the current executioncycle of the first program segment ends.

[0143] The step S76 converts character code data in the text intocorresponding image data. A step S77 following the step S76 transfersthe image data to the printer 11. The step S77 activates the printer 11so that the image data is visualized or printed out by the device 11.After the step S77, the current execution cycle of the first programsegment ends.

[0144]FIG. 20 is a flowchart of a second segment of the program. Withreference to FIG. 20, a first step S81 of the second program segmentdecides whether or not the destination list button on the operationpanel 7D has been depressed. In the case where the destination listbutton on the operation panel 7D has been depressed, the programadvances from the step S81 to a step S82. Otherwise, the program repeatsthe step S81. Thus, the step S82 waits the depression of the destinationlist button.

[0145] The step S82 decides whether or not ID information of a senderhas been inputted via the operation panel 7D. This decision is to waitthe reception of sender ID information. In the case where the IDinformation of the sender has been inputted, the step S82 reads outinformation of a destination mail list from the storage unit 4 whichcorresponds to the ID information of the sender. The step S82 transfersthe information of the destination mail list to the display on theoperation panel 7D. The step S82 activates the display on the operationpanel 7D so that the information of the destination mail list isvisualized thereby.

[0146] A step S83 following the step S82 decides whether or not adestination has been selected from the visualized destination mail listby actuating the operation panel 7D. In the case where a destination hasbeen selected, the program advances from the step S83 to a step S84.Otherwise, the program repeats the step S83. Thus, the step S83 waitsthe selection of a destination.

[0147] The step S84 decides whether or not the start button on theoperation panel 7D has been depressed. In the case where the startbutton on the operation panel 7D has been depressed, the programadvances from the step S84 to a step S85. Otherwise, the program repeatsthe step S84. Thus, the step S84 waits the depression of the startbutton.

[0148] The step S85 activates the scanner 6 so that an image of thesurface of a document sheet in the scanner 6 is converted by the scanner6 into corresponding binary image data (corresponding bi-level imagedata).

[0149] A step S86 subsequent to the step S85 transfers the binary imagedata from the scanner 6 to the data compressor/expander SA. Then, thestep S86 activates the data compressor/expander 8A so that the binaryimage data is compressed by the device 8A into compression-resultantimage data of a given facsimile format. Further, the step S86 transfersthe compression-resultant image data of the facsimile format from thedata compressor/expander 8A to the storage unit 4 before storing thecompression-resultant image data of the facsimile format into thestorage unit 4.

[0150] A step S87 following the step S86 transfers thecompression-resultant image data of the facsimile format from thestorage unit 4 to the format converter 5. In addition, the step S87informs the format converter 5 of the selected destination. The step S87activates the format converter 5 so that the compression-resultant imagedata of the facsimile format is converted by the device 5 intocorresponding image data of the e-mail format. The image data of thee-mail format contains the information of the destination. Further, thestep S87 transfers the image data of the e-mail format from the formatconverter 5 to the storage unit 4 before storing the image data of thee-mail format into the storage unit 4.

[0151] A step S88 subsequent to the step S87 transfers the image data ofthe email format from the storage unit 4 to the LAN controller 9. Thestep S88 activates the LAN controller 9 so that the image data of thee-mail format is further transferred from the LAN controller 9 to ane-mail computer 9A. The image data of the e-mail format, that is, ane-mail, is transmitted from the e-mail computer 9A to the selecteddestination via an e-mail network 9B. After the step S88, the currentexecution cycle of the second program segment ends.

[0152] Tenth Embodiment

[0153]FIG. 21 shows a tenth embodiment of this invention which issimilar to the embodiment of FIGS. 18-20 except for design changesdescribed hereinafter.

[0154] With reference to FIG. 21, an electronic mail system includes aCPU 1, a ROM 2, a RAM 3, a storage unit 4, a format converter 5, ascanner 6, an operation panel 7E, a data compressor/expander 8A, a LAN(local area network) controller 9, an inverse format converter 10, aprinter 11, a font memory 12, and a character recognition unit 13 whichare electrically connected via a bus line. The operation panel 7Ereplaces the operation panel 7D in FIG. 18. The operation panel 7E has adisplay, a key board, a start button, a source button, and otherbuttons. Information of a source address can be visualized by thedisplay on the operation panel 7E. Information of the destination or theaddress of an e-mail to be transmitted can be inputted into theelectronic mail system by operating the key board on the operation panel7E. ID information of a sender can be inputted into the electronic mailsystem by operating the source button on the operation panel 7E. Thescanner 6 can be activated by operating the start button on theoperation panel 7E.

[0155] The CPU 1 operates in accordance with a program stored in the ROM2. FIG. 22 is a flowchart of a first segment of the program. Withreference to FIG. 22, a first step S71A in the first program segmentdecides whether or not character code data in an e-mail has beenreceived by the LAN controller 9. In the case where the character codedata in the e-mail has been received, the program advances from the stepS71A to a step S72A. Otherwise, the program repeats the step S71A. Thus,the step S71A waits the reception of character code data in an email.The step S72A analyzes the “Subject” part of the header of the e-mail.

[0156] A step S73A following the step S72A decides whether or not the“Subject” part of the header corresponds to a text instruction byreferring to the result of the analysis by the step S72A. When the“Subject” part of the header corresponds to a text instruction, theprogram advances from the step S73A to a step S74A. Otherwise, theprogram advances from the step S73A to a step S76A.

[0157] The step S74A analyzes the text in the e-mail to extract IDinformation of a sender and information of a source address therefrom. Astep S75A following the step S74A stores or registers the ID informationof the sender and the information of the source address into the storageunit 4 in a manner such that the ID information of the sender and theinformation of the source address are in a given correspondencerelation. After the step S75A, the current execution cycle of the firstprogram segment ends.

[0158] The step S76A converts character code data in the text intocorresponding image data. A step S77A following the step S76A transfersthe image data to the printer 11. The step S77A activates the printer 11so that the image data is visualized or printed out by the device 11.After the step S77A, the current execution cycle of the first programsegment ends.

[0159]FIG. 23 is a flowchart of a second segment of the program. Withreference to FIG. 23, a first step S82A of the second program segmentdecides whether or not ID information of a sender has been inputted bydepressing the source button on the operation panel 7E. This decision isto wait the reception of sender ID information. In the case where the IDinformation of the sender has been inputted, the step S82A reads outinformation of a source address from the storage unit 4 whichcorresponds to the ID information of the sender. The step S82A transfersthe information of the source address to the display on the operationpanel 7E. The step S82A activates the display on the operation panel 7Eso that the information of the source address is visualized thereby.Thus, it is possible to confirm the source address.

[0160] A step S83A following the step S82A decides whether or notinformation of the destination or the address of an e-mail to betransmitted has been inputted via the operation panel 7E. In the casewhere the information of the destination of an e-mail to be transmittedhas been inputted, the program advances from the step S83A to a stepS84A. Otherwise, the program repeats the step S83A. Thus, the step S83Awaits the reception of the information of the destination.

[0161] The step S84A decides whether or not the start button on theoperation panel 7E has been depressed. In the case where the startbutton on the operation panel 7E has been depressed, the programadvances from the step S84A to a step S85A. Otherwise, the programrepeats the step S84A. Thus, the step S84A waits the depression of thestart button.

[0162] The step S85A activates the scanner 6 so that an image of thesurface of a document sheet in the scanner 6 is converted by the scanner6 into corresponding binary image data (corresponding bi-level imagedata).

[0163] A step S86A subsequent to the step S85A transfers the binaryimage data from the scanner 6 to the data compressor/expander 8A. Then,the step S86A activates the data compressor/expander 8A so that thebinary image data is compressed by the device 8A intocompression-resultant image data of a given facsimile format. Further,the step S86A transfers the compression-resultant image data of thefacsimile format from the data compressor/expander SA to the storageunit 4 before storing the compression-resultant image data of thefacsimile format into the storage unit 4.

[0164] A step S87A following the step S86A transfers thecompression-resultant image data of the facsimile format from thestorage unit 4 to the format converter 5. In addition, the step S87Atransfers the information of the source address and the information ofthe destination to the format converter 5. The step S87A activates theformat converter 5 so that the compression-resultant image data of thefacsimile format is converted by the device 5 into corresponding imagedata of the e-mail format. The image data of the e-mail format containsthe information of the source address and the information of thedestination. Further, the step S87A transfers the image data of thee-mail format from the format converter 5 to the storage unit 4 beforestoring the image data of the e-mail format into the storage unit 4.

[0165] A step S88A subsequent to the step S87A transfers the image dataof the e-mail format from the storage unit 4 to the LAN controller 9.The step S88A activates the LAN controller 9 so that the image data ofthe e-mail format is further transferred from the LAN controller 9 to ane-mail computer 9A. The image data of the e-mail format, that is, ane-mail, is transmitted from the e-mail computer 9A to the destinationvia an e-mail network 9B. After the step S88A, the current executioncycle of the second program segment ends.

[0166] Eleventh Embodiment

[0167] An eleventh embodiment of this invention is similar to theembodiment of FIGS. 18-20 except for design changes describedhereinafter.

[0168] In the eleventh embodiment, when ID information of a sender isinputted, a source address corresponding to the ID information of thesender is recognized. Information of the source address is automaticallywritten into the header of an email carrying image data.

[0169] Twelfth Embodiment

[0170]FIG. 24 shows a twelfth embodiment of this invention which issimilar to the embodiment of FIGS. 14 and 15 except for design changesdescribed hereinafter.

[0171] With reference to FIG. 24, an electronic mail system includes aCPU 1, a ROM 2, a RAM 3, a storage unit 4, a format converter 5, ascanner 6, an operation panel 7F, a data compressor/expander 8A, a LAN(local area network) controller 9, an inverse format converter 10, aprinter 11, a font memory 12, a character recognition unit 13, an audioinput/output device 14, an audio compressor/expander 15, a videoinput/output device 16, a moving-picture compressor/expander 17, and amodern 18 which are electrically connected via a bus line. The operationpanel 7F replaces the operation panel 7C in FIG. 14. The operation panel7F has a key board, a start button, a mode selection button, and otherbuttons. Information of the destination or the address of an e-mail tobe transmitted can be inputted into the electronic mail system byoperating the key board on the operation panel 7F. In addition,information of a destination telephone number can be inputted into theelectronic mail system by operating the key board on the operation panel7F. The scanner 6 can be activated by operating the start button on theoperation panel 7F. Operation of the electronic mail system can bechanged between an e-mail mode and a facsimile mode by operating themode selection button on the operation panel 7F. The modem 18 isconnected to a telephone line. The modem 18 serves to transmit andreceive a facsimile signal to and from the telephone line.

[0172] The CPU 1 operates in accordance with a program stored in the ROM2. FIG. 25 is a flowchart of a segment of the program. With reference toFIG. 25, a first step S91 in the program segment decides whether or notthe mode selection button on the operation panel 7F has been operated.In the case where the mode selection button on the operation panel 7Fhas been operated, the program advances from the step S91 to a step S92.Otherwise, the program repeats the step S91. Thus, the step S91 waitsoperation of the mode selection button.

[0173] The step S92 decides which of the e-mail mode and the facsimilemode has been selected by referring to a signal coming from the modeselection button on the operation panel 7F. When the facsimile mode hasbeen selected, the program advances from the step S92 to a step S93.When the e-mail mode has been selected, the program advances from thestep S92 to a step S96.

[0174] The step S93 decides whether or not information of a destinationtelephone number has been inputted via the operation panel 7F. Also, thestep S93 decides whether or not the start button on the operation panel7F has been depressed. In the case where the information of thedestination telephone number has been inputted and the start button onthe operation panel 7F has been depressed, the program advances from thestep S93 to a step S94. Otherwise, the program repeats the step S93.Thus, the step S93 waits the reception of information of a destinationtelephone number and the depression of the start button.

[0175] The step S94 activates the scanner 6 so that an image of thesurface of a document sheet in the scanner 6 is converted by the scanner6 into corresponding binary image data (corresponding bi-level imagedata). A step S95A following the step S94 transfers the binary imagedata from the scanner 6 to the data compressor/expander 8A. Then, thestep S95A activates the data compressor/expander 8A so that the binaryimage data is compressed by the device 8 into compression-resultantimage data of a given facsimile format.

[0176] A step S95B subsequent to the step S95A transfers thecompression-resultant image data of the facsimile format from the datacompressor/expander 8A to the modem 18. The step S95B activates themodem 18 so that the compression-resultant image data of the facsimileformat (that is, the facsimile signal) is outputted from the modem 18 tothe telephone line. Normally, the facsimile signal is transmitted viathe telephone line to the communication opposite party identified by thedestination telephone number. After the step S95B, the current executioncycle of the program segment ends.

[0177] The step S96 decides whether or not information of thedestination or the address of an e-mail to be transmitted has beeninputted via the operation panel 7F. In addition, the step S96 decideswhether or not the start button on the operation panel 7F has beendepressed. In the case where information of the destination of an e-mailto be transmitted has been inputted and the start button on theoperation panel 7F has been depressed, the program advances from thestep S96 to a step S97. Otherwise, the program repeats the step S96.Thus, the step S96 waits the reception of information of an e-maildestination and the depression of the start button.

[0178] The step S97 activates the scanner 6 so that an image of thesurface of a document sheet in the scanner 6 is converted by the scanner6 into corresponding binary image data (corresponding bi-level imagedata). A step S98A following the step S97 transfers the binary imagedata from the scanner 6 to the data compressor/expander 8A. Then, thestep S98A activates the data compressor/expander 8A so that the binaryimage data is compressed by the device 8 into compression-resultantimage data of a given facsimile format. Further, the step S98A transfersthe compression-resultant image data of the facsimile format from thedata compressor/expander 8A to the storage unit 4 before storing thecompression-resultant image data of the facsimile format into thestorage unit 4. In the case where the transmission of information on aplurality of document sheets (that is, a plurality of pages) isrequired, the document sheets are sequentially scanned by the device 6and the compression-resultant image data of the facsimile format isstored into the storage unit 4 as a single file having a plurality ofpages.

[0179] A step S98B following the step S98A transfers thecompression-resultant image data of the facsimile format from thestorage unit 4 to the format converter 5. The step S98B activates theformat converter 5 so that the compression-resultant image data of thefacsimile format is converted by the device 5 into corresponding imagedata of the e-mail format. In addition, the step S98B transfers theimage data of the e-mail format from the format converter 5 to thestorage unit 4 before storing the image data of the e-mail format intothe storage unit 4.

[0180] A step S99 subsequent to the step S98B transfers the image dataof the email format from the storage unit 4 to the LAN controller 9. Thestep S99 activates the LAN controller 9 so that the image data of thee-mail format is further transferred from the LAN controller 9 to ane-mail computer 9A. The image data of the e-mail format, that is, ane-mail, is transmitted from the e-mail computer 9A to the destinationvia an e-mail network 9B. After the step S99, the current executioncycle of the program segment ends.

[0181] Thirteenth Embodiment

[0182] A thirteenth embodiment of this invention is similar to theembodiment of FIGS. 24 and 25 except for design changes describedhereinafter.

[0183]FIG. 26 is a flowchart of a segment of a program for controlling aCPU 1 (see FIG. 24) in the thirteenth embodiment. With reference to FIG.26, a first step S101 in the program segment decides whether or not dataof the e-mail format has been received by a LAN controller 9 (see FIG.24). This decision is to wait the reception of data of the e-mailformat. In the case where data of the e-mail format has been received,the step S101 transfers the received data of the e-mail format to astorage unit 4 (see FIG. 24). The step S101 controls the storage unit 4so that the received data of the e-mail format is stored into thestorage unit 4.

[0184] A step S102 following the step S101 decides whether or not thereceived data of the e-mail format agrees with image data of the e-mailformat by referring to related information in the header of the receiveddata of the e-mail format. When the received data 25 agrees with imagedata, the program advances from the step S102 to a step S103. When thereceived data differs from image data, the program advances from thestep S102 to a step S104. The step S103 transfers the received data ofthe e-mail format from the storage unit 4 to an inverse format converter10 (see FIG. 24). The step S103 activates the inverse format converter10 so that the received data of the e-mail format is converted by thedevice 10 into corresponding image data of a given facsimile format. Thestep 104 controls a LAN controller 9 (see FIG. 24) so that a responsivee-mail representing an error will be transmitted to the sourceconcerning the received data of the e-mail format. After the step S104,the current execution cycle of the program segment ends.

[0185] A step S105 following the step S103 transfers the image data ofthe facsimile format from the inverse format converter 10 to a datacompressor/expander 8A (see FIG. 24). The step S105 activates the datacompressor/expander 8A so that the image data of the facsimile format isexpanded by the device 8A into expansion-resultant binary image data(expansion-resultant bi-level image data). Further, the step S105transfers the expansion-resultant binary image data from the datacompressor/expander 8A to the storage unit 4 before storing theexpansion-resultant binary image data into the storage unit 4.

[0186] A step S106 subsequent to the step S105 transfers theexpansion-resultant binary image data from the storage unit 4 to aprinter 11 (see FIG. 24). The step S106 activates the printer 11 so thatthe expansion-resultant binary image data is visualized or printed outby the device 11.

[0187] A step S107 following the step S106 decides whether or not areception waiting flag has been set. When the reception waiting flag hasbeen set, the program advances from the step S107 to a step S108.Otherwise, the program exits from the step S107, and the currentexecution cycle of the program segment ends.

[0188] The step 108 controls the LAN controller 9 so that an e-mailrepresenting a reception notice will be transmitted to apreviously-registered terminal (a previously-registered terminalstation). After the step S108, the current execution cycle of theprogram segment ends.

[0189] Setting the reception waiting flag is implemented by previouslytransmitting an e-mail in which a text has “!RCV SET” according to theformat of FIG. 17. Resetting the reception waiting flag is implementedby transmitting an email in which a text has “!RCV RESET” according tothe format of FIG. 17.

[0190] Fourteenth Embodiment

[0191] A fourteenth embodiment of this invention is similar to theembodiment of FIGS. 24 and 25 except for design changes describedhereinafter.

[0192]FIG. 27 is a flowchart of a segment of a program for controlling aCPU 1 (see FIG. 24) in the fourteenth embodiment. With reference to FIG.27, a first step S110 in the program segment decides whether or notimage data of the e-mail format (an e-mail) has been received by a LANcontroller 9 (see FIG. 24). This decision is to wait the reception ofimage data of the e-mail format. In the case where image data of thee-mail format has been received, the step S10 transfers the receivedimage data of the e-mail format to a storage unit 4 (see FIG. 24). Thestep S10 controls the storage unit 4 so that the received image data ofthe e-mail format is stored into the storage unit 4.

[0193] A step S11 following the step S110 transfers the received imagedata of the e-mail format from the storage unit 4 to an inverse formatconverter 10 (see FIG. 24). The step S111 activates the inverse formatconverter 10 so that the received image data of the e-mail format isconverted by the device 10 into corresponding image data of a givenfacsimile format. Then, the step S111 transfers the image data of thefacsimile format from the inverse format converter 10 to the storageunit 4 before storing the image data of the facsimile format into thestorage unit 4.

[0194] A step S112 subsequent to the step S111 analyzes the “Subject”part of the header of the received e-mail. In the case where theanalyzed “Subject” part of the header includes a requirement forfacsimile transmission, the step S112 extracts information of adestination telephone number from a portion of the received e-mail whichimmediately follows the “Subject” part.

[0195] A step S113 following the step S112 decides whether or not arequirement for facsimile transmission is present. When a requirementfor facsimile transmission is present, the program advances from thestep S113 to a step S114. Otherwise, the program advances from the stepS113 to a step S115A.

[0196] The step S114 transfers the image data of the facsimile formatfrom the storage unit 4 to a modem 18 (see FIG. 24). The step S114activates the modem 18 so that the image data of the facsimile format(that is, the facsimile signal) is outputted from the modem 18 to atelephone line. Normally, the facsimile signal is transmitted via thetelephone line to the communication opposite party identified by thedestination telephone number. After the step S114, the current executioncycle of the program segment ends.

[0197] A step S115A transfers the image data of the facsimile formatfrom the storage unit 4 to a data compressor/expander 8A (see FIG. 24).The step S115A activates the data compressor/expander 8A so that theimage data of the facsimile format is expanded by the device 8A intoexpansion-resultant binary image data (expansion-resultant bi-levelimage data). Further, the step S115A transfers the expansion-resultantbinary image data from the data compressor/expander 8A to the storageunit 4 before storing the expansion-resultant binary image data into thestorage unit 4.

[0198] A step S115B subsequent to the step S115A transfers theexpansion-resultant binary image data from the storage unit 4 to aprinter 11 (see FIG. 24). The step S115B activates the printer 11 sothat the expansion-resultant binary image data is visualized or printedout by the device 11. After the step S115B, the current execution cycleof the program segment ends.

[0199] Fifteenth Embodiment

[0200]FIG. 28 shows a fifteenth embodiment of this invention which issimilar to the embodiment of FIGS. 24 and 25 except for an additionalarrangement described hereinafter.

[0201] With reference to FIG. 28, an electronic mail system includes aCPU 1, a ROM 2, a RAM 3, a storage unit 4, a format converter 5, ascanner 6, an operation panel 7F, a data compressor/expander 8A, a LAN(local area network) controller 9, an inverse format converter 10, aprinter 11, a font memory 12, a character recognition unit 13, an audioinput/output device 14, an audio compressor/expander 15, a videoinput/output device 16, a moving-picture compressor/expander 17, a modem18, and a world clock 19 which are electrically connected via a busline. The world clock 19 generates information of standard time in everycountry in the world.

[0202] The CPU 1 operates in accordance with a program stored in the ROM2. FIG. 29 is a flowchart of a segment of the program. With reference toFIG. 29, a first step S121 in the program segment decides whether or notinformation of the destination or the address of an e-mail to betransmitted has been inputted via the operation panel 7F. In the casewhere the information of the destination of an email to be transmittedhas been inputted, the program advances from the step S121 to a stepS122. Otherwise, the program repeats the step S121. Thus, the step S121waits the reception of destination information.

[0203] The step S122 sets desired time for e-mail transmission which isexpressed according to standard time in a country having an e-maildestination. A step S123 following the step S122 decides whether or notthe start button on the operation panel 7F has been depressed. In thecase where the start button on the operation panel 7F has beendepressed, the program advances from the step S123 to a step S124.Otherwise, the program repeats the step S123. Thus, the step S123 waitsthe depression of the start button.

[0204] The step S124 activates the scanner 6 so that an image of thesurface of a document sheet in the scanner 6 is converted by the scanner6 into corresponding binary image data (corresponding bi-level imagedata). A step S125A following the step S124 transfers the binary imagedata from the scanner 6 to the data compressor/expander 8A. Then, thestep S125A activates the data compressor/expander 8A so that the binaryimage data is compressed by the device 8A into compression-resultantimage data of a given facsimile format. Further, the step S125Atransfers the compression-resultant image data of the facsimile formatfrom the data compressor/expander 8A to the storage unit 4 beforestoring the compression-resultant image data of the facsimile formatinto the storage unit 4.

[0205] A step S125B following the step S125A transfers thecompression-resultant image data of the facsimile format from thestorage unit 4 to the format converter 5. In addition, the step S125Btransfers the information of the e-mail destination to the formatconverter 5. The step S125B activates the format converter 5 so that thecompression-resultant image data of the facsimile format is converted bythe device 5 into corresponding image data of the e-mail format.Further, the step S125B transfers the image data of the e-mail formatfrom the format converter 5 to the storage unit 4 before storing theimage data of the e-mail format into the storage unit 4.

[0206] A step S126 following the step S125B detects a destination'scountry from the information of the e-mail destination. It is well-knownthat an end part of information of an e-mail destination indicates thedestination's country. A step S127 subsequent to the step S126 detectspresent time in the destination's country by referring to theinformation generated by the world clock 19. The step S127 decideswhether or not the present time in the destination's country reaches thedesired time for e-mail transmission. This decision is to wait a momentat which the present time in the destination's country reaches thedesired time for e-mail transmission. In the case where the present timein the destination's country reaches the desired time for e-mailtransmission, the step S127 transfers the image data of the e-mailformat from the storage unit 4 to the LAN controller 9. The step S127activates the LAN controller 9 so that the image data of the e-mailformat is further transferred from the LAN controller 9 to an e-mailcomputer 9A. The image data of the e-mail format, that is, an e-mail, istransmitted from the e-mail computer 9A to the destination via an e-mailnetwork 9B. After the step S127, the current execution cycle of theprogram segment ends.

[0207] Sixteenth Embodiment

[0208] A sixteenth embodiment of this invention is similar to theembodiment of FIGS. 24 and 25 except for design changes describedhereinafter.

[0209]FIG. 30 is a flowchart of a segment of a program for controlling aCPU 1 (see FIG. 24) in the sixteenth embodiment. With reference to FIG.30, a first step S131 in the program segment decides whether or notimage data of the e-mail format (an e-mail) has been received by a LANcontroller 9 (see FIG. 24). This decision is to wait the reception ofimage data of the e-mail format. In the case where image data of thee-mail format has been received, the step S131 transfers the receivedimage data of the e-mail format to a storage unit 4 (see FIG. 24). Thestep S131 controls the storage unit 4 so that the received image data ofthe e-mail format is stored into the storage unit 4.

[0210] A step S132 following the step S131 transfers the received imagedata of the e-mail format from the storage unit 4 to an inverse formatconverter 10 (see FIG. 24). The step S132 activates the inverse formatconverter 10 so that the received image data of the e-mail format isconverted by the device 10 into corresponding image data of thefacsimile format.

[0211] A step S133 subsequent to the step S132 transfers the image dataof the facsimile format from the inverse format converter 10 to thestorage unit 4, and then storing the image data of the facsimile formatinto a box which is provided in the storage unit 4 for the relateddestination. It should be noted that boxes provided in the storage unit4 have a correspondence relation with previously-registered owner's IDinformation and previously-registered pass words.

[0212] A step S134 following the step S133 decides whether or notowner's ID information and a pass word are inputted. This decision is towait the reception of owner's ID information and a pass word. In thecase where owner's ID information and a pass word are inputted, the stepS134 decides whether or not the inputted owner's ID information and theinputted pass word are acceptable. In the case where the inputtedowner's ID information and the inputted pass word are acceptable, theprogram advances from the step S134 to a step S135A. Otherwise, thecurrent execution cycle of the program segment ends.

[0213] The step S135A reads out the image data of the facsimile formatfrom the box in the storage unit 4 which corresponds to the inputtedowner's ID information and the inputted pass word. The step S135Atransfers the image data of the facsimile format to a datacompressor/expander 8A (see FIG. 24). The step S135A activates the datacompressor/expander 8A so that the image data of the facsimile format isexpanded by the device 8A into expansion-resultant binary image data(expansion-resultant bi-level image data).

[0214] A step S135B subsequent to the step S135A transfers theexpansion-resultant binary image data from the data compressor/expander8A to a printer 111 (see FIG. 24). The step S135B activates the printer11 so that the expansion-resultant binary image data is visualized orprinted out by the device 11. After the step S135B, the currentexecution cycle of the program segment ends.

[0215] Seventeenth Embodiment

[0216] A seventeenth embodiment of this invention is similar to theembodiment of FIG. 30 except for design changes described hereinafter.In the seventeenth embodiment, the step S134 is omitted from the programsegment of FIG. 30, and the step S133 is immediately followed by thestep S135A.

[0217] Information of owner's cover sheet is previously registered in arelated box of a storage unit 4 (see FIG. 24). The registration isimplemented by using a scanner 6 (see FIG. 24) or transmitting an e-mailhaving a cover-sheet registering instruction.

[0218] In the seventeenth embodiment, the step S135B is modified so thatinformation of a cover sheet is read out from the storage unit 4, andthe information of the cover sheet is added to expansion-resultantbinary image data. Accordingly, a combination of the cover-sheetinformation and the expansion-resultant binary image data is visualizedor printed out by a printer 11 (see FIG. 24).

[0219] Eighteenth Embodiment

[0220] An eighteenth embodiment of this invention is similar to theembodiment of FIGS. 24 and 25 except for design changes describedhereinafter.

[0221]FIG. 31 is a flowchart of a segment of a program for controlling aCPU 1 (see FIG. 24) in the eighteenth embodiment. With reference to FIG.31, a first step S141 in the program segment decides whether or notimage data of the e-mail format (an e-mail) has been received by a LANcontroller 9 (see FIG. 24). This decision is to wait the reception ofimage data of the e-mail format. In the case where image data of thee-mail format has been received, the step S141 transfers the receivedimage data of the e-mail format to a storage unit 4 (see FIG. 24). Thestep S141 controls the storage unit 4 so that the received image data ofthe e-mail format is stored into the storage unit 4.

[0222] A step S142 following the step S141 transfers the received imagedata of the e-mail format from the storage unit 4 to an inverse formatconverter 10 (see FIG. 24). The step S142 activates the inverse formatconverter 10 so that the received image data of the e-mail format isconverted by the device 10 into corresponding image data of a givenfacsimile format. The step S142 transfers the image data of thefacsimile format to the storage unit 4 before storing the image data ofthe facsimile format into the storage unit 4.

[0223] A step S143A following the step S142 transfers the image data ofthe facsimile format from the storage unit 4 to a datacompressor/expander 8A (see FIG. 24). The step S143A activates the datacompressor/expander 8A so that the image data of the facsimile format isexpanded by the device 8A into expansion-resultant binary image data(expansion-resultant bi-level image data).

[0224] A step S143B subsequent to the step S143A transfers theexpansion-resultant binary image data from the data compressor/expander8A to a printer 11 (see FIG. 24). The step S143B activates the printer11 so that the expansion-resultant binary image data is visualized orprinted out by the device 11.

[0225] A step S144 detects information of the address of a senderrelated to the received e-mail. The step 144 controls a LAN controller 9(see FIG. 24) so that a responsive e-mail confirming e-mail receptionwill be transmitted to the sender address. After the step S144, thecurrent execution cycle of the program segment ends.

[0226] Nineteenth Embodiment

[0227] A nineteenth embodiment of this invention is similar to theembodiment of FIGS. 24 and 25 except for design changes describedhereinafter.

[0228]FIG. 32 is a flowchart of a segment of a program for controlling aCPU 1 (see FIG. 24) in the nineteenth embodiment. With reference to FIG.32, a first step S151 in the program segment decides whether or notimage data of the e-mail format (an e-mail) has been received by a LANcontroller 9 (see FIG. 24). This decision is to wait the reception ofimage data of the e-mail format. In the case where image data of thee-mail format has been received, the step S151 transfers the receivedimage data of the e-mail format to a storage unit 4 (see FIG. 24). Thestep S151 controls the storage unit 4 so that the received image data ofthe e-mail format is stored into the storage unit 4.

[0229] A step S152 following the step S151 transfers the received imagedata of the e-mail format from the storage unit 4 to an inverse formatconverter 10 (see FIG. 24). The step S152 activates the inverse formatconverter 10 so that the received image data of the e-mail format isconverted by the device 10 into corresponding image data of a givenfacsimile format.

[0230] A step S153A following the step S152 adds reception IDinformation to the image data of the facsimile format. The reception IDinformation is generated on the basis of date and time unique for oneyear. The step S153A transfers the ID-added image data of the facsimileformat to the storage unit 4 before storing the ID-added image data ofthe facsimile format into the storage unit 4.

[0231] A step S153B subsequent to the step S153A transfers the ID-addedimage data of the facsimile format from the storage unit 4 to a datacompressor/expander 8A (see FIG. 24). The step S153B activates the datacompressor/expander 8A so that the ID-added image data of the facsimileformat is expanded by the device 8A into expansion-resultant binaryimage data (expansion-resultant bi-level image data).

[0232] A step S153C subsequent to the step S153B transfers theexpansion-resultant binary image data from the data compressor/expander8A to a printer 11 (see FIG. 24). The step S153C activates the printer11 so that the expansion-resultant binary image data is visualized orprinted out by the device 11.

[0233] A step S154 following the step S153C decides whether or notinformation equal to the reception ID information added to the imagedata has been inputted via an operation panel 7F (see FIG. 24). In thecase where such reception ID information has been inputted, the programadvances from the step S154 to a step S155. Otherwise, the programrepeats the step S154. Thus, the step S154 waits the reception of the IDinformation.

[0234] The step S155 analyzes the header of the received e-mail, andthereby detects a sender address corresponding to the reception IDinformation. The step S155 controls a LAN controller 9 (see FIG. 24) sothat a responsive confirmation e-mail will be transmitted to the senderaddress. After the step S155, the current execution cycle of the programsegment ends.

[0235] Twentieth Einbodiment

[0236] A twentieth embodiment of this invention is similar to theembodiment of FIGS. 24 and 25 except for design changes describedhereinafter.

[0237]FIG. 33 is a flowchart of a segment of a program for controlling aCPU 1 (see FIG. 24) in the twentieth embodiment. With reference to FIG.33, a first step S161 in the program segment decides whether or notcharacter code data in an email has been received by a LAN controller 9(see FIG. 24). This decision is to wait the reception of character codedata in an e-mail. In the case where the character code data in thee-mail has been received, the program advances from the step S161 to astep S162. The step S162 analyzes the “From” part of the header of thee-mail to detect a sender address.

[0238] A step S163 following the step S162 decides whether or not thesender address agrees with a given address assigned to the presente-mail system. When the sender address agrees with the given address,the program advances from the step S163 to a step S164. Otherwise, theprogram advances from the step S163 to a step S165.

[0239] The step S164 transfers a signal indicative of a transmissionfailure to a printer 11 (see FIG. 24). The step S164 activates theprinter 11 so that the transmission failure signal is visualized orprinted out by the device 11. After the step S164, the current executioncycle of the program segment ends.

[0240] The step S165 converts character code data in the text intocorresponding image data. A step S166 following the step S165 transfersthe image data to the printer 11. The step S166 activates the printer 11so that the image data is visualized or printed out by the device 11.After the step S166, the current execution cycle of the program segmentends.

[0241] Other Embodiments

[0242] Any one of the second embodiment to the twentieth embodiment maybe modified to indicate character code data in the received e-mail on adisplay such as a CRT. The CRT may also be used to indicate movingpictures.

[0243] At least two of the first embodiment to the twentieth embodimentmay be combined into an electronic mail system.

What is claimed is:
 1. An electronic-mail reception apparatus having abody, said apparatus comprising: a facsimile receiver that negotiateswith a sender before receiving image data, to receive image data infacsimile format from the sender via a telephone network; anelectronic-mail receiver that receives image data in an electronic mailformat from a mail sender via a communication network; a converter thatconverts the image data in the electronic mail format into image data inthe facsimile format; an output section that outputs the converted imagedata; and an error transmission section that, when the data format thatthe electronic-mail receiver receives is different from a predetermineddata format of the image data in an electronic-mail format, transmits anerror message to the mail sender, wherein the facsimile receiver, theelectronic-mail receiver, the converter, the output section and theerror transmission section are integrated in the body of the apparatus.2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the output section is aprinting mechanism.
 3. The apparatus according to claim 1, furthercomprising: an operational panel that designates one of an electronicmail destination address and a facsimile destination address; anacceptor that converts document data into image data; a compressor thatcompresses the image data; a facsimile transmitter that transmits thecompressed image data to the designated facsimile destination via atelephone network; and an electronic-mail transmitter that transmits thecompressed image data converted into an electronic-mail format to thedesignated electronic mail destination address via the communicationnetwork.
 4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the errortransmission section transmits the error message to the mail sender whenthe data received by the electronic-mail receiver is not a Tiff file. 5.The electronic-mail reception apparatus according to claim 1, whereinthe error transmission section send the error message in accordance withdata in a header of the received data.
 6. An electronic-mail receptionapparatus having a body, said apparatus comprising: a facsimile receiverthat negotiates with a sender before receiving image data, to receiveimage data in facsimile format from the sender via a telephone network;an electronic-mail receiver that receives compressed image data in anelectronic mail format from a mail sender via a communication network; aconverter that converts the compressed image data in the electronic mailformat into compressed image data in the facsimile format; an expanderthat expands the compressed image data; an output section that outputsthe expanded image data; and an error transmission section that, dataformat that the electronic-mail receiver receives is different from apredetermined data format of the image data in an electronic-mailformat, transmits error message to the mail sender, wherein thefacsimile server, the electronic-mail receiver, the converter, theexpander the output section and the error transmission section areintegrated in the body of the apparatus.
 7. The apparatus according toclaim 6, wherein the error transmission section transmits the errormessage to the mail sender when the data received by the electronic-mailreceiver is not a Tiff file.
 8. The electronic-mail reception apparatusaccording to claim 6, wherein the error transmission section send theerror message in accordance with data in a header of the received data.9. A method for receiving image data using an electronic-mail receptionapparatus having a body, comprising: negotiating with a sender beforereceiving image data, to receive image data in facsimile format from thesender via a telephone network; receiving image data in an electronicmail format from a mail sender via a communication network; convertingthe image data in the electronic mail format into image data in thefacsimile format; outputting the converted image data; and transmittingan error message to the mail sender, when the electronic-mail receiverreceives data different from the image data in an electronic-mailformat, wherein the negotiating with the sender, the receiving imagedata in an electronic mail format, the converting image data in theelectronic mail format into image data in the facsimile format, theoutputting and the transmitting of the error message are performed inthe body of the electronic-mail reception apparatus.
 10. The methodaccording to claim 9, wherein the error message is transmitted to themail sender when the received data is not a Tiff file.